Station and power supply device of autonomous travel work machine

Abstract

A station for a lawn mower for charging a storage battery included in the lawn mower that autonomously travels and perform specified work, the station including: a base that stores the lawn mower; and a power supply device that supplies electric power to the storage battery included in the lawn mower when the lawn mower is stored in the base, in which the power supply device or the base includes power supply means for supplying electric power from the power supply device to power receiving means for supplying received electric power to the storage battery included in the lawn mower, and the power supply device is attachable to and detachable from the base.

The invention claimed is: 
     
       1. A station for an autonomous travel work machine, the station being configured to charge a storage battery included in an autonomous travel work machine that autonomously travels and performs specified work, the station comprising:
 a base that stores the autonomous travel work machine; and 
 a power supply device that supplies electric power to the storage battery included in the autonomous travel work machine when the autonomous travel work machine is stored in the base, wherein 
 the power supply device or the base includes; 
 a charge terminal for supplying electric power from the power supply device to a power receiving terminal for receiving electric power for charging the storage battery, the power receiving terminal being included in the autonomous travel work machine, 
 the power supply device is attachable to and detachable from the base, 
 a station wire configured to guide the autonomous travel work machine to a position at which the autonomous travel work machine receives electrical power supply from the charge terminal is provided in the base, 
 the base includes an input terminal of the station wire, 
 the power supply device includes a station wire output terminal that outputs a current that is to flow in the station wire, 
 the input terminal of the station wire is connected to the station wire output terminal by attaching the power supply device to the base, and 
 connection between the input terminal of the station wire and the station wire output terminal is released by removing the power supply device from the base. 
 
     
     
       2. The station according to  claim 1 , wherein
 the base is one of a plurality of bases each of which the power supply device is attachable to. 
 
     
     
       3. The station according to  claim 1 , wherein
 an area wire that is located along a periphery of an area in which the autonomous travel work machine is allowed to travel and that transmits a signal detectable by the autonomous travel work machine is connected to the base, and the base includes an input terminal of the area wire, 
 the power supply device includes an area wire output terminal that outputs a current that is to flow in the area wire, 
 the input terminal of the area wire is connected to the area wire output terminal by attaching the power supply device to the base, and 
 connection between the input terminal of the area wire and the area wire output terminal is released by removing the power supply device from the base. 
 
     
     
       4. The station according to  claim 1 , wherein
 the power supply device includes a handle for a user to carry the power supply device, and 
 the handle is movable between a fixing position at which the power supply device is fixed to the base and a carrying position at which fixation of the power supply device to the base is released. 
 
     
     
       5. The station according to  claim 1 , wherein
 the power supply device is removed from the base by operation of an operating part to operate an engagement tool that engages the power supply device with the base or by removing, using a general-purpose tool, a fixation member for fixing the power supply device to the base. 
 
     
     
       6. A power supply device configured to be attached to a base for storing an autonomous travel work machine that autonomously travels and performs specified work, the power supply device comprising
 a charge terminal for charging a storage battery of the autonomous travel work machine by supplying electric power to the storage battery via a power receiving terminal included in the autonomous travel work machine, wherein 
 the power supply device is attachable to and detachable from the base, 
 the power supply device includes a station wire output terminal that outputs a current that is to flow in a station wire which is provided in the base and which is configured to guide the autonomous travel work machine to a position at which the autonomous travel work machine receives electric power supply from the charge terminal, 
 an input terminal of the station wire is connected to the station wire output terminal by attaching the power supply device to the base, the input terminal of the station wire being provided to the base, and 
 connection between the input terminal of the station wire and the station wire output terminal is released by removing the power supply device from the base.